On Tuesday 19 August 2025, a delegation appeared before the senior advisors to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters.
The delegation represented by Pastor Nigel Woodley of the Coalition of Ministers Supporting Israel; Hon Alfred Ngaro, Dr Sheree Trotter and Dr Ate Moala, from the Indigenous Embassy and Indigenous Coalition for Israel; and Bryce Turner from Christians For Israel, submitted to the advisors reasons why it is too premature to recognize Palestinian statehood.
In a paper prepared for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, the advisors to the Minister, and for Coalition Parliamentarians, the paper explains why recognising a Palestinian state is premature because important conditions have still to be met.
In a nutshell the paper states regarding recognition of a Palestinian State:
- Not yet, and not until all hostages are released by Hamas.
- Not yet, and not until Hamas is removed from governance in Gaza.
- Not yet, and not until the conditions of the Montevideo Convention are met. (1933) sets out four criteria for statehood: permanent population, defined territory, functioning government, and capacity for international relations.
A copy of the briefing paper can be accessed below:
7 Responses
Well done Team – thanks and may you be blessed for all your hard work representing us all who stand with Israel.
I have a few questions I wonder if you could answer for me:
“Not yet, and not until all hostages are released by Hamas.”
When are you going to call for Israel to release any of the 10,000+ Palestinians, many children, that it’s holding as hostages in military prisons?
“Not yet, and not until Hamas is removed from governance in Gaza.”
It was literally Netenyahu who put Hamas in charge of Gaza, do you no longer support him and his party?
“Not yet, and not until the conditions of the Montevideo Convention are met. (1933) sets out four criteria for statehood: permanent population, defined territory, functioning government, and capacity for international relations.”
How do you have a permanent population when you’re being ethnically cleansed? How do you have a defined territory when it’s being constantly encroached on by settlers? How do you have a functional anything when you’re being bombed constantly? How do you have international relations when your occupier won’t allow foreign diplomats or media in?
Nathan Garthwaite’s ‘spin’ on the situation avoids truth and defies logic – but where does one begin to correct both or either? He has chosen the path of least resistance: blind bigotry and folly.
Agreed, spin and blind to the reality of history
Well done Israel lives. May NZ always bless and defend Israel
Well done team congrats to you Sheree for your calm firm answers to the radio program
Many opinions may be offered in the comments in response to your “questions” Mr Garthwaite. While many of us are able to provide a well informed response, IMO the reality – the truth – may not fit your beliefs. I personally shall look forward to the resoonse of the For The Protection of Zion Team.